Monday after the Seventh Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on July 24, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Luke 12:1-9 (NKJV)
12:1 In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
6 “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
8 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. 9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
Devotion
Today’s reading was used at a conference about 15 years ago to embarrass users of internet pornography to stop doing so from the fear that “there is nothing covered that will not be revealed” (v. 2). The audience consisted mainly of pastors and older laity, whose computer use consisted almost exclusively of sending email, preparing sermons, and, perhaps, playing solitaire. Other topics concerning “the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy” were probably more pertinent. Most in attendance belonged to a church body in which the confession of Christ was often compromised for fear of losing health insurance, or other considerations of mammon, so there was a lot of hypocrisy that could have been addressed.
How much greater is the impact of what Jesus emphasizes: that those who might harm the health plan or even kill your body cannot cast you into hell. Indeed, He says that you are so beloved of God for Jesus’ sake that your Father even keeps track of how many hairs you have on your head. Even if your head is no longer as ‘feathery’ as it once was, you are still of more value than many sparrows! Exchanging wickedness for works that confess the New Man’s righteousness in Christ does not come from fear of discovery and punishment, but from cherishing our Father so that we run to Him to confess our sins and live out our joy in His absolution!
Prayer: O God, Whose never-failing Providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth: We humbly beseech Thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which be profitable for 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
