Thursday after Exaudi

Scripture: Jeremiah 46:27-28 (NKJV)

27 “But do not fear, O My servant Jacob, and do not be dismayed, O Israel! For behold, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity; Jacob shall return, have rest and be at ease; No one shall make him afraid.

28 Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,” says the Lord, “For I am with you; For I will make a complete end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but I will not make a complete end of you. I will rightly correct you, for I will not leave you wholly unpunished.”

Devotion

You and I live in a time when it seems the world is undergoing great changes. There are great forces in the world which are threatening changes to the very fabric of life as we have known it. “Political Correctness” is the new norm for everything and it has made meaningful communication almost impossible.

In the time of Jeremiah God’s people were undergoing similar trials. They were living in slavery in a foreign land. Their worship had been interrupted, and things had fallen in around them. Then God spoke to them through the prophet Jeremiah, saying: “Do not fear, O My servant Jacob, and do not be dismayed, O Israel! For behold, I will save you from afar.”

The Lord also speaks to us throughout Scripture, “Do not fear, O My people; do not be dismayed. For I have saved you!” He has saved us through the life, suffering, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ!

With the Church we confess: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on Earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise up me and all the dead and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.”

We pray: Almighty God, make us to have a devout will toward Thee and to serve Thee with a pure heart; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.