Saturday after the Third Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on July 9, 2022 by under
Scripture: St. John 8:42-47 (NKJV)
8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
Devotion
“Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.” Our Lord Jesus is not being mean or hateful when He says these things. He is not being unkind when He says, “You are of your father the devil…” He says to them what must be said: He is, as always, teaching, correcting, and calling people to humble repentance.
This world (and even our own flesh!) despises such things. Our society encourages people to think they are strong and clever, but many act like undisciplined children. God would have us be His children, not self-willed, quarrelsome children of the devil. Christ teaches us to pray to our Father in heaven, asking that His will be done, His kingdom come, and that He forgive our sins, even as He makes us able to love and forgive others. This is very different from the lies, selfishness, and even murderous thoughts to which our broken world clings.
God mercifully continues to speak in the world. He continues to send His Word and His Spirit through the work of His Church because He is gracious and loving. Even though the world ignores His Word and believes vain lies, He keeps repeating the Truth. That is how He seeks to wash us, build us up, and make us stronger and holier, according to His love!
Prayer: O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without Whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy; that Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal; 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.
