Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Tuesday after Gaudete, The Third Sunday in Advent

Posted on December 18, 2018 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
Leave a comment
Scripture: Isaiah 24:21—25:5 (NKJV)
24:21 It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth. 22 They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prison; After many days they will be punished. 23 Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed; For the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before His elders, gloriously.
25:1 O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. 2 For You have made a city a ruin, a fortified city a ruin, a palace of foreigners to be a city no more; It will never be rebuilt. 3 Therefore the strong people will glorify You; The city of the terrible nations will fear You. 4 For You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. 5 You will reduce the noise of aliens, as heat in a dry place; As heat in the shadow of a cloud, the song of the terrible ones will be diminished.
Devotion
Being a Christian is not about keeping up appearances or supporting the right leaders. It is about observing all that Jesus Christ teaches us in the Word and trusting in His atonement for our life and forgiveness.
The world wants us to look at politicians, celebrities, and other “powerful” people. The devil wants us to learn to live from these people and place our hopes and trust in them. But our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Ps.124:8).
Our Lord comes to us in simple, everyday ways as well as in powerful ways. He shows us that the spectacles of men are passing, but His mercies endure forever. So rather than be distracted by the foolish power of the world, let us hold fast to the teaching of God’s Word and exalt His name. It is a matter of focus. We don’t have to ignore what is going on in society, but we don’t have to let its noise dominate our time.
Christ Jesus continues to work in this world to show people His light, life, and salvation. And He continues to work through us to make it known! Our time and powers should be focused on His truth, His teaching, and His forgiveness, because these are the things that truly help and bless others in the world around us!
We pray: Lord, we beseech Thee, give ear to our prayers and lighten the darkness of our hearts by Thy gracious visitation; who livest and reignest with the Father 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.

Leave a Comment