Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Saturday after the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on October 9, 2021 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Proverbs 14:21-31 (NKJV)
 
14:21 He who despises his neighbor sins; But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
 
22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.
 
23 In all labor there is profit, but idle chatter leads only to poverty.
 
24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the foolishness of fools is folly.
 
25 A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
 
26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.
 
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.
 
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s honor, but in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.
 
29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly.
 
30 A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones.
 
31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
 
Devotion
 
Sometimes we hear people talk about “finding the will of God in our lives.” Many so-called preachers tell their followers that God has a wonderful plan for their life. While that sounds good, often they mean something different than what the Scriptures say. These false teachers usually have a material prosperity in mind, and try to “win souls” by proclaiming this idea of extraordinary purpose in the Christian life. However, as we read through the Proverbs we realize God works through means in simple and humble ways. This is often seen in the vocations God has given us in our daily lives. We see in our reading from Proverbs today that wisdom in vocation is relevant to all people; everyone from laborers to kings.
 
In every vocation the wisdom of God is shown through His people humbly and earnestly doing what they have been given to do. Do you want to know the will of God for your life? Serve Him honestly and intently, no matter where you are or what you do. Serve God according to His Word, loving Christ and neighbor, and you will be doing the will of God.
 
Prayer: O God, forasmuch as without Thee we are not able to please Thee: Mercifully grant, that Thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; 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.

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