Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Wednesday after the Fourth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Romans 1:1-15 (NKJV)

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, 6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; 7 To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—12 that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

Devotion

“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.”

What an honor! Can you imagine having someone say to us that they thank God that our faith is spoken of throughout the world? Not that we desire the praises of men, but what Christian wouldn’t want to be so faithful, and so useful to God, that people all over the world knew of it?

The wrong way to take this would be to measure our faithfulness by opinion polls. The right way would simply be to draw such inspiration from these ancient Roman Christians that we, too, seek to be as faithful as we can possibly be.

We have the best news anyone could ever hear: sin is forgiven and eternal life obtained through faith in Jesus Christ on account of all that He has done for us. We have no reason to be overly invested in the things of this world, and we have every reason to give ourselves over fully to speaking the words and doing the deeds with which Christ has entrusted us. Therefore, let us be faithful. And if that gives us a reputation, praise be to God!

“LORD God, grant me Your Holy Spirit, that in word and deed I may so faithfully confess Christ that others take notice of it, and give glory and honor to Your Holy Name on account of it. Amen.”

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