Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Festival of the Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ

Posted on January 1, 2016 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Micah 4:1-8 (NKJV)

1 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it. 2 Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.”

For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 3 He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 4 But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. 5 For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.

6 “In that day,” says the LORD, “I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast and those whom I have afflicted; 7 I will make the lame a remnant, and the outcast a strong nation; So the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on, even forever. 8 And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.”

Devotion

“He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

People hope and labor for peace on Earth, but many who do fail to understand that it cannot be accomplished by the efforts of man. The Lord says in the Gospel accounts that there will be wars and rumors of war. Such things will happen as long as there is sin on the Earth, which means such things will happen until He returns in glory to wipe away every tear and eliminate all sin and death.

It is certainly not wrong for us to work towards peace among mankind. But we must realize that man will never understand peace unless he first knows peace with God. When we understand that our evil and selfishness must be replaced with the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then we will begin to know what makes for true peace. As we are reconciled to God in Christ Jesus we are made to understand humility and justice.

A world without war will only exist in a world that is made new in Jesus Christ. Only He can bring peace among us, because only He can forgive our sins and change our hearts to do those things that make for true love and true righteousness toward all our neighbors.

We pray: Lord God, forgive us our trespasses, and make us able to truly love our neighbor and forgive those who trespass against us so that our peaceful work in this world may show Your truth that will bring everlasting peace to the world in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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