Saturday after the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on October 23, 2021 by under
Scripture: Acts 13:26-41 (NKJV)
13:26 “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:
‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.’
34 And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus:
‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’
35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm:
‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’
36 “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37 but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. 40 Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 ‘Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.’”
Devotion
Paul preached Christ crucified as the fulfillment of the things promised to the sons of Abraham. He preached for all who feared God. But he did not pander to egos, encourage “identity politics”, or reduce the Law so that rebellious hypocrites would not be offended. Paul preached that the Scriptures, beginning with Moses and the Prophets, were fulfilled in the betrayal, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Paul also includes the warning from the prophet Habakkuk, “For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you” (1:5). Moses and the Prophets told the people. Jesus told the people. Peter, Paul, and the other Apostles told the people. The faithful Church and its Apostolic Ministry continue to tell the people to this very day. But still, the faithless ignore the work of God and the hypocrites who say “Lord, Lord” twist the truth. The sure mercy of God in Jesus Christ is preached and worked in His Church, but some people still do not believe.
In spite of man’s sinful obstinacy, the Lord continues to send His mercies through the Church. He continues to work so that people may repent, believe, and be saved. And He continues to strengthen our faith and hearts so that we may be part of that work. We support the Ministry of preaching and the Sacraments, and bear the good fruits of grace, mercy, and peace in what we do so that others may also fear, love, and trust in God above all things in Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Grant, we beseech Thee, Merciful Lord, to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve Thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
