Wednesday after Rogate

Scripture: Isaiah 29:18-24 (NKJV)

29:18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.

19 The humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

20 For the terrible one is brought to nothing, the scornful one is consumed, and all who watch for iniquity are cut off—

21 Who make a man an offender by a word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just by empty words.

22 Therefore thus says the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: “Jacob shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now grow pale;

23 “But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will hallow My name, and hallow the Holy One of Jacob, and fear the God of Israel.

24 “These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, and those who complained will learn doctrine.”

Devotion

During the ministry of Christ the deaf heard the Word of God taught after He unstopped their ears. He gave sight to the blind so that they saw the creation and their Savior. The humble increased their joy as the Lord taught them that it was they, not the proud and pretentious, who were blessed. The poor had the Gospel preached to them, not those who thought they were righteous without the Lord’s help. Through Christ’s preaching many entered His kingdom as children of God. The children of Jacob, the true Israel, increased, not by the work or will of men, but through faith in Christ’s promises.

Although Christ has ascended into heaven, His ministry continues. Throughout every age He works through His called and ordained servants, heirs of the Apostolic Ministry. They preach the Law to those who scorn the Word and complain about doctrine. Those who watch for iniquity are rebuked. Those who trust that they are righteous apart from the Lord’s help are shown their sin so that those who err in spirit might come to understanding, stop their complaining against the Lord, and learn the doctrine of the Gospel. Through the preaching of Law and Gospel Christ unstops ears and gives sight to the spiritually blind, making them into sons of God through faith in His Gospel. The preacher is Christ’s instrument. These children are not the preacher’s work, but the work of God’s hands.

We pray: O God, from whom all good things do come, grant to us, Thy humble servants, that by Thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be right and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.