Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Monday after the Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
Leave a comment
Scripture: Titus 3:8-15 (NKJV)
 
3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.
 
9 But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. 10 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
 
12 When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing. 14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
 
15 All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
 
Grace be with you all. Amen.
 
Devotion
 
Life as a baptized member of the Body of Christ is not always easy. There are many times when dissension and “foolish disputes”, as the Apostle Paul says, will arise, even amongst ourselves. These types of works will ultimately distract us from Christ and make us act more like our Old Adam. Works of foolishness and dissension always carry our mind and actions away from Christ and away from His life-giving Word.
 
This is why the Apostle Paul highlights the “faithful sayings” of God’s Word and exalts good works within the life of the Christian. We are not justified or saved from sin by these good works. However, the Lord does not call us to a life of dissension and foolishness which is contrary to His Word. Instead, the Lord invites us to grow in Him and to excel in good works. The Lord has given us a new heart and mind, with new desires, when He washed us in Holy Baptism. By faith we trust the “faithful sayings” of God’s Holy Word, praying that the Holy Ghost will help us live less from our Old Adam, and more from Christ.
 
Prayer: O Lord, we beseech Thee, let Thy continual pity cleanse and defend Thy Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without Thy help, preserve it evermore by Thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with 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.

Leave a Comment