Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Thursday after Ad te levavi, The First Sunday in Advent

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-4 (NKJV)

1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Devotion

How often have you heard someone say, “God spoke to me!” or “God told me…”? Sometimes people make such statements to gain credibility before others. But some actually believe God speaks to them individually for the sake of His Church.

Hebrews clears the air about what is good for God’s Church by saying that if there is any communication from God, it comes through God’s Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh. This means no one can claim, “I think God is saying…” or “I feel that God is saying…” when it is contrary to what Jesus taught and commanded.

What is credible or valid for the Church is what God has revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ. The Old Testament prophets, the New Testament evangelists and the writers of the Epistles all testify of Christ Jesus, for all doctrine, reproof, correction, or for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

This Advent, may we rejoice and give thanks to God for revealing His Son, who is true God, revealed in His Word. This brings man’s greatest joy in trusting that his sins have truly been forgiven by the blood of Christ, rather than depending upon one’s personal ideas or feelings.

We pray: Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father 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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