Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Tuesday after Rogate

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: St. John 10:22-31 (NKJV)

22 Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. 24 Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.” 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

Devotion

“Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, ‘How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe.'”

We often want answers from God, but we do not always want to believe the answer when He gives it. Our sinful hearts want to set terms, and if the Lord does not answer according to our terms then we either chafe against His Words, or else assume He has not told us.

He gives us clear answers in His Word and works. Part of our life in Christ is learning to sincerely pray and think, “Thy will be done.” True faith makes us able to see where He has taught us plainly the answer to many of our questions in life. We often dislike His answers because they seem hard to our selfish minds, but if we are truly His lambs according to the Holy Spirit, we will hear, understand, and do those things in His will. Or if we fail to do so, (and we do fail at those things constantly) His Spirit instructs us according to His Law and moves us to repentance. He teaches us His will plainly, but He is also very clear in how He shows us His grace and forgiveness.

Jesus Christ clearly manifested His divine power and will to take away the sins of the world by His works and His innocent death on the cross. But, tragically, many choose not to believe in Him, and so they remain deaf to God and are lost in their own doubt. May He continue to tell the world of His true love and grace through His Word and works by His Church on Earth, so that more may believe and have everlasting life in Him. Amen.

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