Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Saturday after the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Hebrews 12:18-29 (NKJV)

18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest, 19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. 20 (For they could not endure what was commanded: “And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow.” 21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Devotion

The author of Hebrews explained the sad case of Esau, whose flippant decision caused irreversible fallout. He gave away his birthright, and there would be no changing of that allotment. We then hear of God’s strict laws concerning Mount Sinai, and the severe consequences should they be broken. Such were the rules that governed ancient Judaism—rules which emphasized the infinite gap between God and man.

But with Christ, things are different: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” As believers, we dwell in a new Jerusalem where God is not only approachable, but watches over us. We also find ourselves in the company of a multitude of angels and fellow believers.

Given such an inheritance, we also have great responsibility. To disregard the law brought terrible punishment to the Israelites. To disregard the gospel yields eternal destruction: “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ‘Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.'”

Prayer: Gracious God, help us never to take for granted the salvation won for us by Jesus Christ and given to us in His Means of Grace. Amen.

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