Monday after Invocavit Sunday
Posted on March 7, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 22:24-32 (NKJV)
22:24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called ‘benefactors.’ 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.
28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Devotion
Humble pie will always be hard to eat for our sinful flesh. And, yet, this is exactly what Jesus dishes out when questions of self-greatness arise. “Think less of yourself.” You don’t hear ‘health, wealth, and prosperity’ preachers declaring that. God’s way is not the way of the flesh!
The flesh is always thinking too highly of itself because it is so self-absorbed. Even believers can be found using the phrase, “I will be able to handle things when they get difficult because I have a strong faith.” Little do they realize how much they are trusting in themselves. Faith is only as good as what faith is focused upon. If someone’s faith is focused upon his own faith, then he is in for a shock when that supposed faith gets tested. It is a false comfort!
God, however, creates and sustains His people in the one true faith by working through His Divine Service of Word and Sacrament Ministry. When properly proclaimed and rightly administered, those means of grace bring His people to have a faith that is focused on Christ and His fully atoning merits for the forgiveness of sins.
Through such a Christ-centered faith your flesh is brought to nothing and you are justified and declared great in the eyes of God for Jesus’ sake! Now that brings restoration, strengthening of the brethren, and true comfort. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy Majesty to defend us from them that rise up against us; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Season of Lent
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with the Thee 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.
